Thursday 14 March 2002

US Envoy Zinni Arrives in Middle East. A U.S. mediator launched a new truce mission Thursday during the deadliest period in nearly 18 months of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. Nine Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers were killed in new violence. [AP World News] What I can't understand here is why it took so long after the announcement of this visit for it to actually happen. Why wait? Surely there's more than enough urgency already. Some commentators said that the UN Security Council resolution had to be on the table before the mission would have the necessary teeth, but this all seems like politicking and lacking in regard for the additional lives which have been lost.       There are so many similarities between Dubyu and Arry: might is right, of course -- and 'oops! I didn't think things would take this turn because I took the military option.' It's the same with the infamous 'Axis of Evil': could no-one see that bellicose terminology such as this would lead to a backlash? There was a report of North Korea threatening to renege on a nucreal non-proliferation commitment because of Dubyu's rhetoric, and the recent attack on Israeli civilians near the Lebanese border was surely foreseeable as a reaction to Israeli actions in Ramalla. 7:10:32 PM  Your view

U.N. Council Backs Palestinian State. Seeking an end to escalating Mideast violence, the United States won approval for a U.N. Security Council resolution that endorsed the idea of a Palestinian state for the first time and demanded an immediate cease-fire. [AP World News] What's this? The US actually sponsoring a UN resolution which involves Israel and is still balanced? Surely this is way overdue after all these years of successive peace agreements and the appalling actions of Israel over the past couple of months. 7:00:54 PM  Your view

Canadian proposal to tax blank media [MacNN] Another example of crazy political thinking. Or is it just cynical? Is it meant to go like this: 'Let's impose a tax, so we can look like we're concerned and doing our part. Then, if pirating is reduced we can claim the credit and if it isn't we can leave the tax in place and generate extra revenue anyway.'       At least there's a comment at the end of the piece which says the proposal is unlikely to obtain parliamentary approval. 6:57:21 PM  Your view

Lawmaker renews anti-copying criticism. Rep. Rick Boucher steps up his criticism of protected CDs, saying blocking consumers from copying their own discs may violate U.S. copyright law. [CNET News.com] I know I'm late posting this item, but I've been up to my proverbials both in work and socially for teh past week and haven't had much time for blogging until now. I've been trying to get a feel for how things are balanced with this copy-protection avalanche, and am concerned that the US legislators may actually take the Disney route -- so it's refreshing to find that at least one lawmaker sees the light. 6:50:51 PM  Your view

		© Copyright 2002 Jim MacCormaic . Last update: 29/09/2002; 06:01:49 am .